Avoid dark corner file submission: Pader council calls for transparency in recruitment exercise

14 March 2026, 11:00 am

By Okwong Geoffrey

Councilors in Pader District have called for transparency in the upcoming recruitment exercise scheduled to take place later this month, raising concerns about how the process is being handled by the district leadership.

The concerns were raised during the 28th council meeting of the 6th council of Pader District Local Government held on Thursday, 12 March 2026 after members questioned the absence of public advertisements for the positions expected to be filled.

According to Sarah Adong, the Acting Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Pader District, the recruitment will strictly be conducted on a replacement basis.

Adong explained that the district intends to fill positions left vacant due to deaths, transfers, and retirement of some civil servants.

However, several councilors said they were surprised that no public advertisement had been seen or heard regarding the recruitment exercise.

Dickson Ojok, the Councilor V representing Angagura Sub-county, questioned the criteria being used to identify candidates for the available positions.

Ojok asked whether residents of his sub-county had been adequately informed about the opportunities so that they could also apply and compete fairly for the jobs.

Felix Lawoko, the councilor representing Atanga Town Council, blamed some caretakers currently managing district offices for what he described as poor functionality within the district administration.

Lawoko alleged that some heads of departments were appointed while still pursuing studies, despite the presence of qualified personnel within the district who could competently handle the positions.

John Chris Mugisha, the councilor representing Ajan Sub-county, also raised concerns about the justification used by the district executive to declare vacancies.

Mugisha noted that the council had only seen an internal memo indicating the vacancies, yet the district intended to recruit candidates from outside as well.

Through the Speaker, Mugisha further questioned the leadership approach of the district administration, arguing that the district needed a Chief Administrative Officer who was more concerned about its welfare.

His remarks followed a statement by the Acting CAO that the District Service Commission currently has limited time to operate because its membership is incomplete and lacks one member to make a full quorum.

Meanwhile, Pader District Chairperson Rtd Col Fearless Obwoya Oyat, who walked out of the heated council session, later told journalists that some councilors were still behaving as if they were in a political campaign period.

Obwoya urged the councilors to put the interests of Pader District first, emphasizing that the delay in recruitment had been caused by the absence of a fully constituted District Service Commission.

He explained that although the commission is currently short of one member, the district sought guidance from the Ministry of Public Service, which allowed the commission to continue operating until 31st March 2026.

Obwoya dismissed claims of irregularities in the recruitment process, warning that if councilors insisted on halting the exercise, the funds allocated for recruitment could be withdrawn, resulting in a loss for the district.

“…If the recruitment exercise is reverted, the money available will be taken back and the district will lose the opportunity,” he said.